Serum withdrawal induces apoptotic cell death in Ki-ras transformed but not in normal differentiated thyroid cells.
Thyroid cells transformed by the Kirsten-ras oncogene become tumorigenic in syngeneic animals. Their growth is no longer dependent on TSH but becomes dependent on serum. Combining morphological and biochemical evidence, we show that serum withdrawal induces apoptotic cell death in Kirsten and Harvey-ras transformed thyroid cell. On the other hand, neither serum nor TSH withdrawal induce apoptosis in differentiated FRTL-5 cells. The induction of apoptosis by serum withdrawal is rapid and not triggered at a specific phase of the cell cycle. We suggest that induction of apoptosis following growth factor deprivation is an additional important characteristic, besides TSH-independence for growth and dedifferentiation, of the thyroid transformed phenotype.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Time Factors
- Thyrotropin
- Thyroid Gland
- Rats
- Kirsten murine sarcoma virus
- Kinetics
- Genes, ras
- Flow Cytometry
- DNA
- Culture Media, Serum-Free
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Time Factors
- Thyrotropin
- Thyroid Gland
- Rats
- Kirsten murine sarcoma virus
- Kinetics
- Genes, ras
- Flow Cytometry
- DNA
- Culture Media, Serum-Free